Turning is a specialized branch of woodworking with its own tools and skill set, and it can seem like an entirely different world even if you know your way around the rest of the shop. The good news is that it's not as hard to get started as you might think. Here's a quick-start guide to woodturning.

Whether you call it a miter saw, cutoff saw or chop saw, this type of machine is built to cut wood to finished length, an operation that involves cutting across the grain. So you know you'll want a crosscut blade, whose high tooth count and knife-like alternating-top-bevel tooth shape can yield an almost polished-looking surface. You'll also probably want a thin-kerf blade to reduce the burden on the saw's motor and to get the greatest possible yield from your stock.

You can have the biggest, best table saw on the market but still get lackluster or even lousy cuts if the blade is mediocre or wrong for the job. Often the blades that ship with table saws are serviceable, but you typically can get a big boost in performance by upgrading to an aftermarket blade.

Setting up shop isn't just about buying the right tools. You need work surfaces where you can get the most out of those tools, and you need space to store them so that they're protected and out of the way but still close at hand.

One way to maximize space in a smaller shop is to have everything on wheels. These configurations of Shop Stands provide the right space, stability and mobility for your sharpening wheel and benchtop drill press. And if you want more storage, check out our Dust-Free Shop Trays. They’re sized and drilled to easily install on 18" and 24" stands.

Sometimes the simplest add-ons make all the difference. They can take an appliance or car – or Shop Stand – from dependably functional to delightfully indispensable. From shop trays that keep tools close at hand to casters that provide mobility to kits for adding drawers, Rockler has accessories to help you get the most from your Shop Stand.